Behind the Scenes in the Lincoln White House
Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House

If you truly want to know a historic character's makeup, warts and all, there's nothing like a sneak peek from a houshold staff member's point of view. This memoir relates the observations of Mrs. Lincoln's personal dressmaker, formerly a slave in a southern household. Mrs. Lincoln disliked, and was suspicious of, most of the Cabinet members' wives. It is not surprising, then, that she turned to the warmth and common sense of a woman who was not her social peer. Small insights into the Lincoln family make this book a must-read for readers seeking additional information about this remarkable time in our nation's history. 7/16/07 Vicki Wood Chulock

Mrs. Keckley’s book is remarkable in several ways. It begins with her early life as part of what the title says, “Thirty Years a Slave.” Slave memoirs are fairly uncommon and those from a female perspective rarer still. Keckley was subjected to all the horrors of the system from beatings from childh......more

This slim book, written by Elizabeth Keckley, onetime modiste of Mary Todd Lincoln during her husband's tenure in the White House, and subsequently her confidante, is a testament to a most remarkable woman. Keckley, who was born a slave in Virginia in 1818, generally speaks very openly about her ear......more

This was interesting but far too much about Mary Todd Lincoln and her family struggles. I wish the beginning which dealt with Elizabeth's life in bondage had been expanded and that story fleshed out. Much of Keckley's attitudes and feelings are bizarre to me. I don't understand why she wanted to pay......more

Well. I am disgruntled. Dis. Gruntled. There are many reasons for my disgruntlement. To start, Keckley's life is 2000% more interesting than Mary Todd Lincoln's. There. I said it. Perhaps it is owing to the moment in time in which we find ourselves, but the daughter of a slave-owning Lexingtonian wh......more

I bought this book when I went to the Lincoln Museum and home in Springfield, IL. I picked it up because - as you might be able to tell - I'm very interested in women's side of history. This was written by Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave and the dressmaker and confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln. It is......more